Three Shots of Rum

                                   Three Shots of Rum

This is a simple pairing that helps illustrate how the flavors and preferences change while smoking a cigar, as well as, the importance of the rum we select and how we serve it.I decided to approach this pairing empirically, assigning a different rum to each of the three smoking stages.  

I selected the rums based on their styles, estimating how well they would match against each of the three stages.To start the pairing I wanted a white rum, in this case I selected Bacardi White to drink during the first third of the cigar.  I selected Pampero Añejo for the second third (if you don’t have this rum, you could use a light rum aged 5-7 years).  Lastly, I selected Zacapa 23, you could substitute it with Zafra 21, Diplomático or even Dictador, depending on your preference.

For the cigar, I selected a Drew Estate Undercrown Shade, a cigar produced by combining tobaccos from different origins: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Sumatra. The wrapper is Connecticut shade from Ecuador.  The different geographical origins within the same cigar suggest a changing strength, but the intensity is usually milder than full-bodied cigars from the same brand.

Upon lighting the cigar, the draw was exceptional, with creamy and subtle aromas that confirm this was the correct cigar for the pairing.

During the first third, generally speaking, the aromas are more subtle.  Regardless of how intense the flavors will become later on, they are in their infancy so we are pairing it with the white rum.  I must admit that the idea of pairing the cigar with a white rum was not very convincing, but I was pleasantly surprised.  The rawness of the sugarcane raw materials and the herbal freshness of the rum reminded me of the straightforwardness of the pairings when one visits sugarcane or tobacco plantations in the Caribbean: there is always a cigar and rum pairing that, despite the simplicity of the components, always turns into a memorable and unique experience.

As I start smoking the second third of the cigar, I move on to the aged Pampero rum.  I start to pick up notes of vanilla and caramel, reminiscent of a flan that just came out of the oven.  As far as the cigar, as expected, the creaminess intensifies, reminding me of Nutella, as it combines deliciously with the rum.

As I finish the second third, the cigar’s intensity is at a medium level and it is perfectly balanced with the rum.  It is time to take the pairing to the next level, but for this we need a sweeter rum with a fuller body and longer finish.  As I mentioned earlier, Zacapa 23 can be a good candidate for this, but it can also be substituted with similar commercial offerings, so use your preferred rum.  As the cigar’s intensity goes from medium to high, the tobacco notes become more intense and well-defined, with hints of dry fruits and a subtle spiciness that are counterbalanced perfectly by the sweeter rum.  Without a doubt this is a very straightforward and basic pairing which should appeal to most people.

It is a very simple exercise to do at home, you basically need three shot glasses, approximately 2 ounces each.  Pair each shot with a third of the cigar and stick to the stages and you will be able to understand the basics of pairings so you can then create many more similar pairings.

Cheers!

Philip Ili Barake

#GRCigarPairing